(a)
A description of
the extent to which the reporting utility coordinates its load forecasts with
those of other systems such as affiliated systems in a holding company group,
or other neighboring systems and, if the reporting utility is a combination
utility, a description of the coordination of its gas load forecast with its
electric load forecast.

(b)
A description of the manner in which such forecasts
are coordinated, and any problems experienced in efforts to coordinate load
forecasts.

(c)
A brief description of any computer modeling, demand
forecasting, polls, surveys, or data-gathering activities used in preparation
of the forecast.

(2)
No later than
six months prior to the required date of submission of the forecast, the
commission shall supply reporting utilities:

(a)
Copies of
appropriate commission or other state documents or public statements that
include the state energy policy for consideration in preparation of the
forecast.

(b)
Such current energy policy changes or deliberations
which, due to their immediate significance, the commission determines to be
relevant for specific identification in the forecast (including but not limited
to new legislation, regulations, or adjudicatory findings). It is the
commission's intent that such additional factors be limited to issues of
current policy which may influence the forecast, but which otherwise may not
have been specifically identified by the reporting utility. The reporting
utility shall, to the extent possible, provide either a discussion of the
impacts of such factors on the forecast or demonstrate how it has taken these
factors into account in its forecast. The reporting utility need not adopt such
factors as a part of its forecast.

(3)
Energy
efficiency, demand reduction, and demand response programs and policies of the
reporting utility, which support energy conservation and load modification,
shall be described along with an estimate of their impacts on energy and peak
demand and supply resources.

(a)
To the extent possible, identify changes during the
forecast period in energy demand and identify and describe how such changes are
accounted for in the forecast.

(b)
Describe the
methodologies for determining such energy-price relationships, including
justification for the methodologies employed.

(C)
Forecast documentation. The purpose of the documentation section of the report
is to permit a thorough review of the forecast methodology and test its
validity. The components of the forecast documentation shall include:

(e)
An explanation of how interruptibles, curtailables,
and other non-firm requirements are forecast, how they are treated in the total
forecast and an identification of demand volumes subject to interruption or
curtailment and other non-firm demand.

(f)
An
identification of customer usage factors and a description of how they are used
within the forecast.

(g)
Where the methodology for any major customer class has
changed significantly from the previous year, a discussion of the rationale for
the change.

(a)
For each significant assumption made in preparing the
forecasts include a discussion of the basis for the assumption and the impact
it has on the forecast results. Give sources of the assumption if other than
the reporting utility.

(b)
Identify special information bearing on the forecast
(e.g., the existence of a major planned industrial expansion program in the
area of service).

(3)
Data base
documentation. The responsibilities of the reporting utility with regard to its
forecast data base are as follows:

(iii)
A clear
identification of any adjustments made to raw data in order to adapt them for
use in the forecast, including for each adjustment, to the extent
practicable:

(a) The nature of the adjustment made.

(b) The basis for the adjustment made.

(c) The magnitude of the adjustment.

(b)
If a
hearing is to be held on the forecast in the current forecast year, the
reporting utility shall provide to the commission in electronic formats or
other medium as the commission directs all data series, both input and output,
raw and adjusted, and model equations used in the preparation of the
forecast.

(c)
The reporting utility shall be prepared to provide to
the commission on request:

(i)
Copies of all data sets used in making the forecasts,
including both raw and adjusted data, input and output data, and complete
descriptions of any mathematical, technical, statistical, or other model used
in preparing the data.

(ii)
A narrative explaining the data sets, and any
adjustments made with the data to adapt it for use in the forecast.

(D)
Demand forecast
forms. The demand presentation shall include the following elements presented
on the indicated forms supplied by the commission.

(1)
Service area
natural gas demand: actual and forecast Ohio service area natural gas demand
(MMCF/year) displayed by major customer class as indicated in form FG1-1.

(2)
Monthly gas sendout: a month-by-month forecast of gas sendout in the service
area for the current year and the following two years, as indicated on form
FG1-3 (this sendout shall conform to the most likely growth scenario).

(3)
Range
of forecasts: a range of forecasts provided on form FG1-4 for natural gas sales
volumes by residential, commercial, and industrial sector and total sales
volumes. The range of forecasts shall consist of, at a minimum, three scenarios
(highest, lowest, and most likely growth). The methodology for the range
forecast shall be determined by the reporting utility and may be based on
confidence intervals, different assumptions, or whatever techniques the
reporting utility finds appropriate.

(4)
Peak and
forecast design day requirements: historical peak requirements and forecast
design day requirements (MMCF) as indicated on form FG1-5.

(5)
Self-help and
other transported gas: historical and forecast self-help gas volumes as
transported and anticipated to be transported by the reporting utility as
indicated on form FG1-6.

(6)
Gas distribution companies serving more than one
hundred thousand customers should also include service area natural gas demand
by industrial sectors: actual and forecast natural gas demand in Ohio only
(MMCF/year) by industrial sectors displayed for each of the standard industrial
classification (SIC) codes indicated on form FG1-2.